IngredientsThe basic rule for Thai cooking
is that all ingredients should be ready before cooking begins.
This means that each item has been cut into small or bite-size
pieces to cook quickly. Here is a selected list of the commonly
used ingredients.
All of the ingredients listed below can be found in specialty
Thai markets and shops and in areas like Chinatown in most major
cities.
As Thai food grows in popularity more of them will be found
in your local supermarket.
Lemongrass, noodles, fish sauce, even coconut milk may already
be on the shelf of your corner supermarket.
And if you can’t find what you’re looking for, contact Dim and
she can send you what you need.

Galangal – Used
in Thai soup or in curry paste. It comes in a variety of forms
fresh, dry, powdered or frozen.

Thai Sweet Basil – This fragrant
relative of common basil is used in most curry dishes. Available
as either dried or fresh, although the fresh is far superior.

Curry Paste – There are many
kinds of curry in a complete Thai cuisine, only the most well
known are introduced on this website. If you wish to buy the
curry paste ready made it is available in oriental markets
and larger supermarkets.

Fish Sauce – Used
mainly in Thai cooking and sauces. Substitutes for salt in
most Thai dishes. Each brand has a different salt content
that can affect the flavor of dishes.

Coconut Milk – Many Thai curries,
desserts and drinks are made with this creamy product, it
can be found in almost any supermarkets.

Kaffir Lime Leaves – An important
herb in preparing curry dishes, it can be purchased dry, fresh
or frozen.

Lemongrass – This is an essential
herb that is used in curry paste and two well-known soups,
Tom Yum Goong and Kai Dom Khaa. This herb is also reputed
to be good for the nervous systems.

Thai Rice Noodles (Kanom Jeen)
– Noodles made from rice flour. Usually served with Thai curries

Mangos – A sweet delicious
tropical fruit that can either be eaten ripe or green. Good
in salads, desserts and drinks

Sweet Rice – Rice used in the
north and northeastern part of Thailand as a main staple food.
In other parts of Thailand it is used in desserts. It has
a sticky texture.